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Israel365News posted the following:

Rabbi Kessin: God Is Orchestrating the Fall of Iran — And Trump Doesn’t Fully Understand His Role
April 26, 2026
Something unprecedented is unfolding in the skies over Iran, in the corridors of the White House, and — according to Rabbi Mendel Kessin — in the heavenly tribunal itself. In a lecture posted to YouTube last week, Rabbi Mendel Kessin, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Torah-based geopolitical analysis, delivered what can only be described as a theological framework for the war against Iran — one that reaches back to the Book of Genesis, threads through the prophecies of Isaiah, and lands squarely on Donald Trump’s desk in 2026. Rabbi Kessin’s core claim is simple and staggering: what we are watching is not merely a military campaign. It is a divine agenda unfolding in real time. …

The evidence that this prophecy is being fulfilled now, Rabbi Kessin maintained. On April 13, 2026, Donald Trump gave a speech about the spectacular rescue of two American pilots from Iranian territory — one of whom reportedly climbed a 7,000-foot mountain to evade capture — and said, in Rabbi Kessin’s paraphrase, that he “felt like a brother to Netanyahu.” Days later, Netanyahu publicly described Israel as “the small brother” and America as “the big brother.” Rabbi Kessin found the symmetry exact. “It was amazing,” he said, “because I had said that their relationship… and they actually revealed in their language that they feel like brothers.”
For Rabbi Kessin, this is prophetic fulfillment. Trump, he argues, represents the positive dimension of Esav — a man whose mission is to be “a man of the field,” to engage with the nations and remove evil from the world. “Trump is doing the job of Esav,” he says. “That’s biblical — to remove evil from the world and to bring righteousness is a biblical mission.” And crucially, Trump’s motivation must be more than a geopolitical alliance. God requires that it be brotherly love. “You do it as a brother,” Rabbi Kessin explains, “because you love him.” …
Trump, he argues, keeps speaking about peace negotiations with Iran. And this, Rabbi Kessin says with unusual bluntness, is not just strategically foolish — it is spiritually dangerous. “Trump is in real danger. He doesn’t understand.”
The core of the argument is that Iran is not an ordinary adversary. https://israel365news.com/417711/rabbi-kessin-god-is-orchestrating-the-fall-of-iran-and-trump-doesnt-fully-understand-his-role/

Yes, there are biblical and prophetic ramifications of what is going on with Iran.

Yes, there is a brotherly relationship between the Jewish state and the United States (see also the free eBook: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?).

Yes, Donald Trump does not realize various scriptural connections.

But no, Donald Trump does not represent Esau (more on his background can be found in the free eBook: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?).

Now, the Israel365News article did not cite scriptures, but I will.

First let’s look in Daniel:

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. (Daniel 11:40-44, NIV)

40 And at the time of the end, a king of the south pushes himself forward with him, and a king of the north storms against him, with chariot, and with horsemen, and with many ships; 41 and he has come into the lands, and has overflowed, and passed over, and has come into the desirable land, and many stumble, and these escape from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon. 42 And he sends forth his hand on the lands, and the land of Egypt is not for an escape; 43 and he has ruled over treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the desirable things of Egypt, and Lubim and Cushim [are] at his steps. (Daniel 11:40-43, LSV)

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible states:

Hebrew, Cushites – כשׁים kushı̂ym… The reference here, undoubtedly, is to the African Cush

Why mention this?

Because none of the lands mentioned in Daniel 11:40-43 in relation to the King of the South are Iranian/Persian.

Because of that, since no later than April of 2007, I have warned that:

I believe that Iran will be somewhat neutralized at some point in time as I differ from PCG on Iran and the king of the South. (COG News: Emphasizing News of Interest to those Once in the Worldwide Church of God. April 7, 2007. https://cogwriter.com/1103news.htm)

And over the nearly two decades since, I have repeatedly written that since that Iran cannot be the final King of the South that it looked like it would be neutralized:

If Iran keeps trying to be difficult on the international scene, it will likely be neutralized (and probably by Israel). Contrary to the claims of some groups like Gerald Flurry’s PCG, Iran is NOT the King of the South (but it is likely to provide support to that upcoming power). (Thiel. B. Iran Slams Russia. COGwriter, May 26, 2010).
According to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, but Syria seemingly is, I have long written that Iran will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.) and the regime in Syria would change. (Thiel B. Obama arrives in Israel and meets with Netanyahu. COGwriter, May 20, 2013)

Notice also:

Expect Iran to be involved in more terrorism. But also expect that Iran will be at least neutralized. … Iran is mainly east of Jerusalem … Iran might be a king of the East, but it is not the King of the South.(Thiel B. PCG: Will America and Iran Go to War? COGwriter, July 4, 2019)

Iran has been labeled as the leading sponsor of state terrorism as it has been involved in much through various proxies, etc.

Neutralization does not mean that Iran will be eliminated. But basically we in the CCOG believe that Iran will not be in a strong enough military position to become the King of the South of biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:40-43. However, Iran may at least partially support such an Islamic leader to a degree.

Here are more statements:

I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized,’ as I believe it will overplay its hand. (Thiel B. After second tanker incident, Israel says it is ready to attack. COGwriter, August 5, 2021)

Related to Iran, back in October of 2022, I posted:

As far as Iran itself goes, while it wants to lead all of Islam, it will fail in that objective — the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up.
Iran could be neutralized by internal unrest or other matters–and there is unrest in Iran. On the other hand, if it employs, or attempts to employ, certain weapons of mass destruction in certain locals, it may well cause Israel, the USA, and/or others to turn on it and destroy aspects of its military capability.
I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. (Thiel B. Iran, Drones, Ukraine, and Israel. COGwriter, October 21, 2022)

In my free 2023 eBook Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?, I predicted:

Despite its posturing, relative military strength, and ability to damage Israel and others, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24).

Here is something I posted a few weeks before the current war with Iran, along with something in even closer post:

As far as Iran itself goes, it has long wanted to lead all of Islam. It hopes by one day conquering Israel (according to a video it put out over a decade ago), it will get the rest of the Muslims to follow it. However, it will fail to become the leader of Islam– the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up. (Thiel B. Iran makes retaliatory threats–is Iran overplaying its hand? COGwriter, February 8, 2026)
Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). (Thiel B. Donald Trump threatens Iran with a deadline–How might Iran strike back? COGwriter, February 20, 2026)

As Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have basically confirmed, Iran has been somewhat neutralized.

Yet, a critic of my sermon, 21st Century Prophets (and Prophetesses), posted the following at the Banned by HWA website on 28 February 2026:

Not one ‘prophet’ from within the Armstrong fold as far as I can see, has predicted the unfolding events in Iran. Latest news is that Ayatollah Khamenei has been eliminated, as have many at the very top of the Islamic regime. Including defence minister. Goodbye king of the south lol. Have family in Ashdod and Jerusalem, so am concerned for their welfare at this time. No one has heard of Dr Bob Thiel in the ME, especially in Israel. Total unknown.
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 1:09:56 PM PST

Something like this may have been unexpected by Gerald Flurry, but not to those of us willing to believe what the Bible actually teaches.

As seemingly typical of critics posting there, poster failed to realize that:

I have written that Iran would not be the King of the South.
I seem to have been the first to write that because of that Iran would be somehow neutralized.
I repeatedly have warned for nearly two decades that Iran would be somewhat neutralized.

The loss of Iran’s Supreme leader and several of its top military and political leaders was a partial neutralization.

Because of the bombings and other attacks by the USA and Israel, Iran’s military capabilities have been seriously degraded.

Iran will NOT be the King of the South of biblical prophecies.

But, Iran still has a prophetic role and, therefore expect it to cause significant damage to Jerusalem, despite its somewhat neutralized state, per Isaiah 22:6-9.

The Book of Proverbs notes:

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)

Many critics think they are wise, but many have not seemed to have been interested enough to take the time to check out the facts to be able to discern the truth over falsehoods.

We in the CCOG have always taught against the idea that Iran would lead the King of the South. Plus we taught that Iran would be somewhat neutralized–this is not something that other COGs or Greco-Roman Catholic or Protestant churches have been teaching.

Additionally, we have denounced certain Protestants who wrongly believe that the current war relates directly to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 related to Gog and Magog (watch: Motjaba Khamenei, the Imam Mahdi, and Ezekiel 38).

We also have the following video:

14:20
Iran Neutralization Prediction Confirmed
Are current events involving Iran confirming long-standing prophetic interpretations? In this episode of the Bible News Prophecy Program, Steve Dupuie speaks with Bob Thiel about how recent developments in the Middle East align with predictions he has made for nearly two decades. Dr. Thiel explains his long-held position that Iran would not become the prophesied “King of the South” described in the Book of Daniel, and instead would be “somewhat neutralized” before that power rises. He points to recent statements from leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, who claim Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened, as evidence that Iran has been somewhat neutralized. The discussion explores: What “neutralization” of Iran really means? Why Iran is not the final dominant power in biblical prophecy? How a future Middle Eastern confederation may emerge. The role of prophecy in understanding global conflicts. Scriptures from the Book of Ezekiel, Second Epistle of Peter, and Gospel of Mark are also examined to provide context and caution against misinterpretations of current events. As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, this episode challenges viewers to carefully compare headlines with scripture—and to stay alert, as Jesus instructed.

Here is a link to our video: Iran Neutralization Prediction Confirmed.

Now, although we do not see everything clearly (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12), because we in the Continuing Church of God rely more on scripture than Protestants and others actually do, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.

Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.

21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? Will you prove all things and test the spirits? Here is a link to a relate sermon: 21st Century Prophets (and Prophetesses).

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.